Friday Foto Finish Fiesta, 2009.07.10

Things are getting worse.

More than a week ago my industrial-sized, energy-efficient, cost-effective, ultra-expensive washing machine broke. And as advertised, the Maytag man that had been previously sitting around waiting for me to call arrived the very next day.

"We'll need a few new pieces," and off he drove. Into the sunset.

Calendar pages turn, laundry piles grow, outdoor temperatures range anywhere from fifty-six degrees overnight to eighty-five during the day (that has nothing to do with any of this, I just like to announce that Mother Nature and I are simultaneously going through menopause) and I finally call to see why my washing machine hasn't been restored to its original state of glory.

The kind woman on the other end of the line informs my in a quiet voice, "The piece you need is back-ordered for at least two more weeks."

And I'm all, "What do you mean back-ordered for at least two more weeks?"

So, I've been spending a tremendous amount of time at the laundromat with my new best friends. I've met:

* Cheap-Looking Wig Lady
* Better Quality-Looking Wig Lady
* Asian Adult Male With Three Sixty Gallon Trash Bags Of Blankets
* Extremely Feminine College Boy With Creases In His Jeans
* Hot Young Woman With Way Way Way Too Many Thongs
*Gender-Undetermined Khaki Pants And Blue Shirt Person

So, I haven't been around the house much this week because when we are here we simply create more dirty laundry which means more time at the laundromat.

One week down, two more to go. Not bad. One third of the way to my repaired washing machine. Something to look forward to, trying to remain optimistic.

That is, until my garbage disposal vomited peanut shells everywhere.

P.S. No, those are not "clean green products" and this wouldn't be the day to convince me that I should be environmentally conscientious.

1. In your Phriday personal post, include a phavorite photograph (like how I did that?) and a brief description of why it is your phave. Anything at all works for me ... one picture, more pictures, a video ... even if you participate it another blogger's Friday event you can double up as long as you link back to me within your post.

2. My advice is that you jump on board now bephore everyone in the nation gets involved and there are no mega-giga-y2k-bytes lepht phor you!

3. Add your name to Mister Linky's Magic Rectangle and a direct link to your post (not just a direct link to your blog, but a direct link to your Fx4 post).

4. As always, if you have any questions or just want to chat about cats or kids or what I am going to do with the ten spare hours I now have every Phriday, you can contact me at candidcarrie at gmail dot com!

5. Try to remember to link back to me, if you don't know how or would like some help, I'll gladly assist you!

Let the Phestivities begin!

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta, 2009.07.03

On top of everyone's camera there are little objects like "pretty girl head" "tulip" "running man" ... have you seen them?

Well, I always new they were there and I usually kept my camera safely set on the "green square" because it was safe.

Beyond the "picture" buttons are some "alphabet" buttons and finally after two years of owning a really great camera there is a good chance I know have a better understanding of what combination creates which results.

Now you will be able to not only see the sweat on my kids, you will be able to see the kool-aid on their upper lip and the dirt ring around their necks.

I am confident that if I continue to read the camera book I might be able to get a picture of what they are thinking! Which is probably something like, "Don't you have enough pictures of me?"




If you have never been here before, well you showed up on one of the busiest days of the week. I've got a little party going on every Friday and everyone is invited.

That was my Phavorite Phriday Photo pheaturing phun, phun, phun (we also spell things kind of goophy on Phridays) ...

Now show us what you have got today!

1. In your Phriday personal post, include a phavorite photograph (like how I did that?) and a brief description of why it is your phave. Anything at all works for me ... one picture, more pictures, a video ... even if you participate it another blogger's Friday event you can double up as long as you link back to me within your post.

2. My advice is that you jump on board now bephore everyone in the nation gets involved and there are no mega-giga-y2k-bytes lepht phor you!

3. Add your name to Mister Linky's Magic Rectangle and a direct link to your post (not just a direct link to your blog, but a direct link to your Fx4 post).

4. As always, if you have any questions or just want to chat about cats or kids or what I am going to do with the ten spare hours I now have every Phriday, you can contact me at candidcarrie at gmail dot com!

5. Try to remember to link back to me, if you don't know how or would like some help, I'll gladly assist you!

Let the Phestivities begin!






View blog authority

My High Definition Vacation

Ah, the internet is a marvelous tool. Information at my fingertips, what I what when I want it. Friends are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Friends.

Of course there are flesh and blood friends. The ones that live in or around your zip code. The ones you see at the grocery store, church, school parking lots, local sporting events. They are tangible. You can smile at them, wave to them, hang with them, and hug 'em.

The internet took friendship to a new level. Blogging brought new acquaintances. Facebook and Twitter added more.

It was through blogging that I met Carey. We became friends quickly, long before we realized all of our similarities. Shortly after we connected, she disappeared from blogging while her youngest son Rickie was in the hospital for complications with cystic fibrosis. I missed this woman that I barely knew.

The on-line friendship went to the next level, telephone contact. We laughed for hours. We are the same age (I am just a little bit older, just ask her) and we both have six kids. We remember the lyrics to just about every song we've ever heard from the early sixties through the very late nineties. We even have the same names, Carey Sue and Carrie Sue (mine is spelled the right way, not hers).

When I call her house, her kids yell, "Candid Carrie is on the phone" while my kids yell, "It's the other Carey Sue" when she calls me. I recently found out that Carey's mother Judy refers to me as Internet Carrie.

And last week we finally met. I boarded Amtrak with my two youngest kids and went to Michigan. There was never an awkward moment. There were no surprises. I knew all of her kids, she knew mine.

Wait, back up. There was one surprise. Her people were now available in HD. Yup, it was my high definition vacation. After over a year of looking at pictures, it took me a little while to get used to fact that my friend and her family were now animated. Their hair moved in the breeze, their arms flew all over the place when the talked.

Our kids families meshed immediately. My children started showing up in the background of their family pictures.






Harrison and Rickie remained wrapped around each other, almost like litter mates that were separated years earlier. The boys drank Kool Aid by the gallon, ate popcorn by the bucket, rode bikes around the block, and raced from tree to tree while avoiding the neighborhood ninjas.

And when Rickie had his aerosol treatments the at least one of my kids sat with him in the same chair, the vibrations of the vest shaking them both as the cartoon network blared with the same sweet sounds that could be heard at our house.


Haley was riveted by the four girls, her nails were painted and her hair was repeatedly brushed. And when they weren't available she ran with the rough and tumble boys, surviving a head on bicycle collision and a hockey stick to the brow bone. In both instances she held an ice pack to her forehead and in about fifteen minutes she was good to go. Again.

And as an adult, I will be forever grateful that didn't miss this opportunity to make a new friend. My wish for my own children is that they someday have friends that have the same give/take balance that I have with my friends.

I realize when we are young it is easy peasy lemon squeezie to make friends with the person who is standing next to you in line for a drink at a water fountain. When you are an adult, even more so a mother who works from within there home, friends aren't showing up on their bikes at the end of your driveway waiting for you.

Seize the moment, grab the friend, make it last. I am glad that I did.

And It Feels Like Home

Harrison, Haley and I left the house on Wednesday morning at 4:30 and approximately 12 hours later we got a glimpse of this out of our train window.



She picked us up and we drove quickly (and by quickly I mean New York cab driving, hang on to your luggage, try not to wet your pants quickly) we drove through Detroit and saw this:



And we saw this:



And a bunch of other stuff on our way to meet this guy:



Who ran through the house screaming: Candid Carrie's here, Candid Carrie's here.

Our kids met and just like their mothers, it was as though they had known each other their entire lives!





But, I have to get going because very soon there will be a party to celebrate the high school graduation of this girl:



So, if you guessed that I am visiting Carey Sue from A Woman's Prerogative, you are correct! I probably won't get to write more until the middle of next week, but I encourage you to visit this site ... I've begun writing over here, too!



P.S. While I've been in Michigan, I've had the opportunity to meet my mentor, Tija and hopefully her son, Alex. Because of Tija's love and support, I have recently received an invitation to attend this conference. Thank you for believing in me, Tija.

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta, 6009.06.26 The Time I Forgot It Was Friday

Egad, let's get this party started!

Where in the world is Candid Carrie?

1. I am in a different state.

2. I am visiting a woman that I met via blogging.

3. She has six kids, I have six kids.

4. We both have the same first name.

5. Here's a picture of my her youngest son with my two youngest.

6. Send me an e-mail at candidcarrie at gmail dot com with your guess!

7. I'll post where I am as soon as someone guesses it!



If you have never been here before, well you showed up on one of the busiest days of the week. I've got a little party going on every Friday and everyone is invited.

That was my Phavorite Phriday Photo pheaturing phun, phun, phun (we also spell things kind of goophy on Phridays) ...

Now show us what you have got today!

1. In your Phriday personal post, include a phavorite photograph (like how I did that?) and a brief description of why it is your phave. Anything at all works for me ... one picture, more pictures, a video ... even if you participate it another blogger's Friday event you can double up as long as you link back to me within your post.

2. My advice is that you jump on board now bephore everyone in the nation gets involved and there are no mega-giga-y2k-bytes lepht phor you!

3. Add your name to Mister Linky's Magic Rectangle and a direct link to your post (not just a direct link to your blog, but a direct link to your Fx4 post).

4. As always, if you have any questions or just want to chat about cats or kids or what I am going to do with the ten spare hours I now have every Phriday, you can contact me at candidcarrie at gmail dot com!

5. Try to remember to link back to me, if you don't know how or would like some help, I'll gladly assist you!

Let the Phestivities begin!






View blog authority